Aerospace Engineering Seminar

Impulsively depositing energy into high-speed flow allows one to sculpt the air's density distribution to achieve great benefits in terms of decreased drag and increased control and stability.  We have explored specific geometries along straight lines ahead of a body, as well as various distributions along a body's surface. Depositing energy in this fashion provides significant benefits, some of which will be described in this presentation. These benefits derive from the ability to move roughly 98% of the air out from in front of the vehicle, imparting only enough energy to move the air laterally out of the way to generate a low-density "tube", without imparting forward momentum to the air.  This yields a favorable energy balance, as well as reduced temperature and pressure at the vehicle surface.  The embodiments we will discuss incorporate ultrashort laser pulses, high voltage electric discharges, and nanosecond microwave pulses, and videos will be shown of the resulting dynamics.  Non-industrial applications include missiles, military and commercial flight, space access, and high speed ground transportation.